Review: Mount Gay Rum Eclipse Black

Barbados’s Mount Gay is rounding out its “Eclipse” rum collection — currently comprising a Silver and a medium-bodied gold rum — with Eclipse Black, a darker, bolder version of its classic aged rum.

The rum is a blend of single- and double-distilled rums aged from two to seven years. The final blend is then aged in new charred American oak casks and bottled at 100 proof.

I like this a lot. It’s got a big, authentic, sweet rum flavor, and it’s surprisingly smooth on the palate. Nothing unexpected: Rich molasses character, brown sugar, and a lasting finish. There’s some mint and light chocolate character in there, but it’s basically drowned by the big, deep dark rum sweetness. That’s not a bad thing, since the primary notes are so impressive. Be warned: The hefty proof level is a little dangerous for a rum this smooth. Travel with care.